Bucs game is the only Week One blackout

As the NFL launches the first Sunday of the regular season, the television signal for the home team’s game will be blocked in only one market.

Tampa.

The Panthers-Bucs game will be the only blackout this weekend, with sellouts (i.e., all non-premium seats sold at least 72 hours before kickoff) everywhere else.

Of course, sellouts should be expected in Week One. And it was believed for months that the Bucs would be able to reach the minimum number, especially since the team decided to take full advantage of the new 85-percent minimum and the Bucs slashed prices on concessions and some parking and Cam Newton is coming to town and, you know, it’s Week One.

Two of the other cities taking advantage of the new rule — the Raiders (85 percent) and the Vikings (90 percent) — are hosting games, and managed to sell the minimum number of tickets. The Dolphins also dropped the number to 85 percent but they are on the road on Sunday, at Houston.

And I live 2 hours south of Tampa, and instead of getting to watch the 49ers vs the Packers, WE are stuck watching this game.

How unfair is that? The people in Tampa get to watch a good game, and we are stuck with the Buccaneers.

texaninc says:Sep 9, 2012 7:59 AM

Unfortunately for the owners, attending games is not the highest thing on a fans priority list. Football is great an HD TV, fantasy is über popular, and getting to pay $12 for a beer just doesn’t excite the average fan these days. This not-selling-out trend will only get worse.

dgtalmn says:Sep 9, 2012 8:02 AM

Sorry to see the team does not have the fan base to support them. Maybe the NFL and NFLPA should stop the lawsuit and look at ways to lower ticket prices.

@nickster31 I had the same problem ( 2 hours south I assume like me your in the Ft.Myers Area) And got sick of it so I got the ticket this year. Cost as much each week as the bar.

flavordave says:Sep 9, 2012 8:12 AM

Tampa fans of all 3 pro sports are a disgrace. Its a smack to the sports Gods that theyve been rewarded with a championship in football, in hockey, and a trip to the world series in 2008. They never sell out and need thundersticks to make the noise that two hands usually make. Blackout the whole city they dont care. Id like to say that theyre fair weather fans but they have trouble selling out playoff games and even Stanley cup playoff games. Take that stupid cannon at the bucs games and point it at he crowd. But dont worry nobody will be there to get hit.

It’s an embarrassment. The Rays are one of the best teams in baseball and they don’t get supported either.

macbull says:Sep 9, 2012 8:22 AM

I feel sorry for the Bucs fans, not being able to watch their team on TV.

The NFL’s blackout rule needs to be changed and if the NFL won’t do it willingly, the fans need to get their elected officials involved, with congress forcing the NFL to end their blackout policy.

jmho…mac

finfan813 says:Sep 9, 2012 8:23 AM

You guys have it all wrong. Tampa is pretty big and most of our population has came from up north. We have more fans for other teams then we do our own. For example I’m a dolphins fan but live in Tampa. Don’t hate! Know how many packers, giants, bears fans there are here. Hell we have bars that are full on steelers and bills bars! I’m sure it’s like that everywhere but it seems excessive here.

nfloco says:Sep 9, 2012 8:34 AM

Times are tough. The folks with the big dough…still go. It’s the regular fan that can’t afford a $10 beer and a $6 hot dog. So …we don’t go anymore. The fact that the team is worse than in other years is a convenient scapegoat. It’s the money and the times we live in.

Maybe the teams where should ask the fans what need to happen to have sellouts. I though they did flood in free agency, overpaid but did good and they had a good draft. If that can’t get people in the stadium then what will?

seanb20124 says:Sep 9, 2012 8:45 AM

Economy must suck in that part of the country. War Mitt Romney to the rescue

Hey, Tampa “fans.” In case you’ve been hiding under a rock…it is the opening game of the season, your team is playing a division rival, and one of the most exciting young QB’s in the league is coming to town. Be careful….you may just find out which is worse: having a bad team or having no team at all.

As a Bucs fan, this is a huge embarrassment. They’ve lowered ticket prices, spent money in free agency…finally, free parking, half price concessions and STILL can’t get 85% to show up.
With 1.2 million living in the greater Tampa area they only needed 9,000 to make it happen.

bucfandango says:Sep 9, 2012 9:15 AM

@flavordave,
you’re an idiot, and have no idea what you’re talking about.
It’s those of us in the crowd each week that are staying true and buying tickets.
The Lightning had great attendance all year and should improve even more in 2012′-13′. The thing about the Lightning is Jeff Vinik is arguably the best owner in all of pro sports, He has spent big bucks on the Forum and done much for the community and fans to make thins better. They have the ultimate GM in Yzerman and this team is doing well. IF Mr Viniik was to be sold the Rays and allowed to move them Channelside, the same thing would happen as has with the Lightning.

As for the Bucs, the fans here want wins, period. They have spent some money sure, but now is time to walk the walk and prove it with wins. Yes our economy is bad too, but when you win consistently, fans will find the money to get to the games. BUT first you have to put the proof and worthiness on the field.

The Bay area has about 4 million people + Orlando and many of us drive an hour or more to the games, but that is the Die-Hards, and when the Glazers can win back their old fans whom they ran off with bad decisions, their FREE stadium, which they will never leave, will fill up again.

BTW, we have the best beaches in the world and 75 degree temps in January and February. Idiot.

You guys have it all wrong. Tampa is pretty big and most of our population has came from up north. We have more fans for other teams then we do our own. For example I’m a dolphins fan but live in Tampa. Don’t hate! Know how many packers, giants, bears fans there are here. Hell we have bars that are full on steelers and bills bars! I’m sure it’s like that everywhere but it seems excessive here.
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Don’t buy it. I was born and raised a Lions fan, now living in Jacksonville. I go to Jags games whenever I can. It is the NFL. If you are a fan, you go! That is if you can afford it.

The Bucs will not be on TV. They are blacked out because they cannot sell 85% of their stadium at a reduced ticket price of their price a few years ago, even though it is the same price as last year and they somehow qualified for the 85% rule without lowering anything.

kingpel says:Sep 9, 2012 10:05 AM

nfloco says:Sep 9, 2012 8:34 AM

Times are tough. The folks with the big dough…still go. It’s the regular fan that can’t afford a $10 beer and a $6 hot dog. So …we don’t go anymore. The fact that the team is worse than in other years is a convenient scapegoat. It’s the money and the times we live in.

……………………………………………………………………..

nfloco, I am not sure that I totally buy your argument. A $10 beer and $6 hotdog isnt a neccessity. Buy a 12 pack and kill it in the parking lot before the game and hit the Burger King off of Columbus! Park at the Kmart a couple blocks from the stadium! Buy $30 tickets on StubHub! If people WANT to go to the game at a low cost, it is possible to do.

legacybroken says:Sep 9, 2012 10:06 AM

Mizzouram, Hillsborough county has a legally binding contract that keeps the Bucs in Tampa through the 2025 season at the minimum. It was a key concession in order to get Raymond James built with Taxpayers funds. It was and still is an utterly brilliant move.

They need to move to orlando!!!! Tampa bay is full of lower income folks that cant afford high price tickets and beers. With a move to Orlando the nfl doesn’t even need to rearrange the divisions.

theravenlives2 says:Sep 9, 2012 10:26 AM

I feel sorry for the Bucs fans, not being able to watch their team on TV.

The NFL’s blackout rule needs to be changed and if the NFL won’t do it willingly, the fans need to get their elected officials involved, with congress forcing the NFL to end their blackout policy.

jmho…mac

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Yep, that’s what we need – the clowns in Congress involved in the NFL. I mean, thank God they don’t have any other pressing issues they have to deal with right now. Oh, wait…

The simple fact is that there will be 16 games played at home sites in Week 1. Of those 16 games, 15 have either totally sold out or sold out to 85% so the blackout can be lifted. The way I see it, its the one market that needs to be fixed – not the blackout rule. Either the team starts to sell out, or it should move. End of story.

theravenlives2 says:Sep 9, 2012 10:36 AM

As for the Bucs, the fans here want wins, period.
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Thanks for all of your concern over the attendance of fans at the local sporting events for our Tampa teams. Wish all for you lived here to buy tickets, your all super fans, I can tell. Apathy is the biggest problem here, you are hard pressed to find Bucs fans. Most are fans of “where I grew up”. Most professionals I know and work with upwards of 90%, are from the East Coast or the North. We have all the $$ and would rather watch our teams we grew up with on the NFL Ticket …..plus the Glazers have been pre-occupied with selling Cristiano Ronoldo and ruining Man U, they are regarded by most as carpet baggers both here and in England. Take em…

Thanks for all of your concern over the attendance of fans at the local sporting events for our Tampa teams. Wish all for you lived here to buy tickets, you’re all super fans, I can tell. Apathy is the biggest problem here, you are hard pressed to find Bucs fans. Most are fans of “where I grew up”. Most professionals I know and work with upwards of 90%, are from the East Coast or the North. We have all the $$ and would rather watch our teams we grew up with on the NFL Ticket …..plus the Glazers have been pre-occupied with selling Cristiano Ronoldo and ruining Man U, they are regarded by most as carpet baggers both here and in England. Take em…

Have you ever sat in that Stadium (RJS) in September and October, this isn’t Philly, sure the Heck isn’t Detroit, go set your oven to 175 degrees sit inside and watch your team play today, tell me how much you enjoy that!

screamingsheep69 says:Sep 9, 2012 11:56 AM

Love going to games at RJS. And not a Bucs fan. Warm weather and bikini tops. Add in the creamsickle uni’s, and who cares if they win.

themediaisblind says:Sep 9, 2012 12:21 PM

dtrb10 says:Sep 9, 2012 9:55 AM

Really. How many sports franchises does the state of FL need?

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You must have slept through that Social Studies class that pointed out that Florida is the 4th most populous state…

Going to a live game is a good experience. However, there are so many hassles to it why not sit comfortably save 100 bucks and watch the game at home? Lets be honest nothing beats a live atmosphere. But with tickets prices, ghetto d0uche b@gs that don’t belong, parking cost, traffic, food and beer cost. That’s a whole lot most people don’t want to deal with. Especially when you’re a poorly marketed team.

If any of you knew the history of the glazers (buc owners) youd understand why they are hesitant to run out and by tickets…… if you burn the bridges with the fans, it takes time to repair them! Sundays good showing will help